A/N: Hello, hello, hello. If you haven't read Satan's work ( presstheemmabutton ) on Wattpad, GO AND DO IT NOW! Seriously, she is A* !

Thank you very much for your reviews on the previous chapter. Welcome to those who are following this series and a big THANK YOU to those who have clicked the favourite button. Please do review if you can - it allows me to know if I am doing alright!

I am now on my Christmas holidays but huge evaluations for my Performing Arts course means that I won't have as much as time as I had hoped to write. So, this will be the final update before Christmas for this fandom - I may be posting my ACOTAR/ACOMAF one-shot before the 25th!

Merry Christmas one and all!

Keep smiling!

Emma walks through the front door, dropping her red leather jacket and empty takeaway cup of cocoa down on the kitchen table. She breathes out a sigh, running her palms over the top of her hair which is drawn back loosely into a ponytail, before she walks up to the bedroom that she and Killian share.

She stops short, however, just inside the bedroom door when she sees Killian sitting on the end of their bed, clearly waiting for her to arrive.

"Hey." Emma says with a smile, which fades when she notices the look on his face, the twitch in his jaw. "What's wrong? Has something happened?"

Emma walks forwards and places her hands on his shoulders, the sides of her thumbs rubbing against the column of his neck in what she hopes is a soothing gesture.

"We should talk." he says after a few moments, unable to quite make eye contact with her.

Emma frowns and kisses his forehead a second later. "Of course, but later. I need to change then we need to go to my parents'. We are already running late for this dinner of theirs."

She then turns to the small walk-in wardrobe in the corner of their room, beside the large window, with the intent on grabbing some fresh clothes.

"This is why we need to talk!" Killian suddenly exclaims, making Emma jump and turn to face him in surprise.

"Killian...? What is wrong with you?" Emma asks.

"There is a reason we are running late for this meal, Emma. There is a reason we are having this bloody meal in the first place! You!" Emma takes a step back from Killian who has now stood from his place on the bed. "You prefer spending all of your time being the Sheriff and the Saviour instead of being with those who matter most to you.

"Kil-"

"I am your husband, Emma. I want to be able to come home and see my wife, my best friend, lounging around or playing the video box with Henry when I walk in - not see her for two seconds when she climbs into bed when I am half asleep and couldn't wait up for her any longer. You cannot be so selfish!"

Emma takes a step forwards now, her eyes wide.

"Excuse me?!" she exclaims, taken aback by her husband's words. "I'm being selfish?!"

"Emma, you are bloody pregnant with our child. You cannot keep throwing yourself at every danger to this bloody town, even if they are small. That is just not fair!"

Emma takes another step forwards, her eyes blazing and her hands drop to rest on her small five month bump.

"I am protecting my family which is far more than you do each day, Hook." Killian visibly winces at the use of his 'colourful moniker'. "You knew exactly what you were getting when you chose to marry me. Don't you dare tell me what I am doing is wrong when you would never be capable of it yourself."

Emma then turns around and goes into the wardrobe, picking up a pair of black leggings, a fresh tank top and a thick cream coloured jumper. Once she has the fresh clothes in her arms, she blanks Killian as she walks past him and into the adjoining bathroom, firmly shutting the door behind her. She takes a few deep breaths in an attempt to try to calm down - stress is not good for the baby she feels moving around within her. Emma then quickly changes her clothes, after taking a moment to feel her baby's reassuring movements, replaces her boots on her feet and faces the mirror that hangs over the sink. She unties her ponytail and allows her hair to fall around her shoulders. She raises her hand to adjust a few pieces and smooth is down slightly before she leaves the bathroom.

When she walks downstairs, she is completely at ease but as soon as she sees Killian standing beside the kitchen table, that anger flares up in full force. She snatches her jacket from his hook since he was holding it up for her. Emma then walks out of the front door, pulling her jacket on as she goes. She hears Killian shutting the door behind them and Emma waves her hand, magically locking it since she cannot be bothered to locate the key in the mood she is in. She quickly walks down to her Bug and gets in behind the wheel, waiting for Killian to get in the passenger seat beside her. As soon as the door is shut, Emma starts the Bug and she sets off for the Loft.

...

The entire journey was filled with a highly uncomfortable and tense silence. When they arrived outside her parents' building, Emma parked up, turned off the engine and immediately climbed out before she walked straight into the building; not waiting for Killian as she usually does.

Killian stands behind Emma, a sizeable gap between them as she knocks on the front door. They wait a few moments, Emma shifting on her feet awkwardly. The door then opens, Snow standing on the other side with a large smile on her face.

"Hi, Mum." Emma says, a slight smile on her lips.

"Emma, honey; come on in. The other two should be here soon." Snow says, ushering her daughter and son-in-law into the apartment.

Emma takes off her jacket and hands it to her mother, seeing Killian doing the same. She then moves over to the kitchen where David is preparing the vegetables for their dinner.

"Hey, Dad." she says as she comes up beside him and David drops the knife down on the chopping board to face her.

"Hey, sweetheart." he says, kissing Emma's forehead and momentarily cupping the back of her head as he does so. "You look tired. Please tell me you went home at lunchtime like I told you to." Emma remains quiet and David tilts her chin up to face him when she tries to avoid his gaze. "Emma..."

"There was so much to do this afternoon so, I got it done. I fixed the problem and now he is sitting in our jails with no way out." Emma says, referring to their latest villain who has been causing havoc across town. "And I made sure that the paperwork for him was filled out so that is one less thing to do."

David sighs, placing his hand on Emma's arm and rubbing it slightly and hoping that she will listen to him. "Emma, you shouldn't be working yourself so hard. You need to rest - especially since you are pregnant."

Emma rolls her eyes, stepping away from her father. "Not you too." she says in an annoyed mumble.

"Emmy!" Emma turns around and plants a large smile on her face when her brother runs up to her on his chubby little legs. She lifts him up in her arms and puts him on her right hip.

"Hey, Squirt!" she says enthusiastically as she taps his button nose with her left pointer finger.

"Emmy!" he says again, giggling at his sister.

She walks over to the couch and sits down, Neal sitting on her legs. His little hands go to her baby bump, gently patting it as he babbles to his developing niece or nephew. He giggles again when he feels the slight movements the baby makes against his palms.

"Baby, hi." he says before leaning down and pressing a kiss on her shirt, just above his small hands.

"Is baby saying hello to you, Squirt?" Emma asks, brushing her brother's hair out of his face.

"Yeah!" Neal exclaims and Emma cannot help but smile at his excitement; despite her inner heartache.

...

"Did you manage to talk to her then?" David asks Killian as the pirate leans against the counter. David had asked Killian what was going on and Killian thought it best to share.

"Aye, I did. I was harsh and she didn't take it well. She avoided talking to begin with, brushing me off."

Killian sighs and rubs his forehead.

"She has the combined stubbornness of me and Snow, plus what her previous experiences have taught her so it isn't easy. Did you mention the danger she is putting herself in? I thought she would have paid some attention to that." David says, putting all of the vegetables into their saucepan and over the heat to soften slightly.

"Aye, so did I. She definitely had something to say about that."

David is about to reply when the clambering of little feet catches their attention.

"Killy!" Neal screams before latching onto his brother-in-law's leg.

Killian laughs slightly before carefully picking the three year old up and resting him on his hip, hooked arm going around him so his hand remains free.

"Hello, lad. How are you?" Killian asks and Neal smiles widely.

"Good. Baby kicked!" he exclaims before putting his hand in front of Killian's face. "On my hand!"

Killian smiles and takes hold of Neal's small hand. "Did baby say hello to you?"

Neal nods very quickly and smiles.

"Did you say hello back to baby?" David asks his son, glancing over to the door after it has been knocked upon.

"Yeah! And kissed it!"

"Hi, Mum." Henry's voice comes through and Killian waits for Emma to reply before he approaches him.

"Hello, lad." Killian says to his son-in-law, patting his shoulder. "How was school?"

Henry rolls his eyes slightly. "School is... well, school. Although, I got more physics homework that focuses on the stars again so you can help me with that."

Killian smiles, putting Neal down since his wiggling increased and he glances at him as he runs off. "I'd love to, lad."

"Thanks." Henry says with a smile.

"Henry could you set the table please?" Snow asks, sitting back beside Emma who is still on the couch and currently focused on Neal who now sits on the floor in front of her, playing with his toys. "Your mother has just extended it so we all fit around it."

"Of course!" Henry says, moving into the kitchen cupboards to grab everything.

"I'll help you, Henry." Killian says, offering his services and following the teenager.

"Are you sure?"

"What's the harm in an extra hand helping you out?" Killian asks and smiles at the teenager; hoping that his inner pain does not surface.

...

Everyone senses the strength of the tension between Killian and Emma as they eat, but no one comments on it. The chatter around the table remains focused on everyone but them as any attempt at initiating conversation with the couple falls flat. It is an unspoken relief for all when the meal is finally over.

Emma is now sitting on the floor with her back resting against the couch as she watches Neal play with the pirate ship toys that she, Killian and Henry had gifted him a few weeks previously for his birthday. He suddenly drops his ship, smiling at Emma before he moves to sit in her lap. Her legs lift up slightly, her knees bent and feet planted and arms going either side of her brother to contain him.

"What's up, Squirt?" Emma asks, smoothing Neal's dirty blond hair away from his face.

"Killy looks sad." he says, turning his head to where Killian is talking with Snow, Regina and Henry at the cleared table, David focusing on washing up. He turns back to Emma before putting his small hands on her chest. "Emmy looks sad too."

Emma smiles weakly at her brother who shuffles in his big sister's lap to get more comfortable, his feet resting beside Emma's hips. Neal looks down to his pirate toys on the floor and back up at Emma.

"If he plays, will he still be sad?" he asks, his innocence meaning that he doesn't sense the tension between the married couple.

Emma looks up towards her husband and quickly ducks her head when he suddenly looks in her direction. Neal's hands go back to Emma's bump when the baby moves around again.

"I don't know, Squirt." Emma mumbles.

Neal looks at his sister, raising his hands. "I can make you happy."

"And how will you do that?" she asks, watching Neal raise his hands higher.

Neal smiles widely before suddenly tickling Emma in her ribs. Emma bursts out laughing all of a sudden which prompts Neal's giggling. His little hands are quite ineffective at properly tickling Emma but it dramatically lifts her spirits regardless.

Killian, having heard his wife's laughter, moves over towards them and sees them tickling each other. He walks to the couch and sits down on the floor to Emma's right, shoulders and arms just shy of touching. After a moment, Neal leans over in his sister's lap and begins to attempt to tickle him as well. Killian laughs before both he and Emma begin to tickle the toddler instead; causing him to squeal in delight.

After a few minutes, they stop their tickle attack and Neal yawns loudly. He moves around so he is fully in Emma's lap again instead of laying across both of them and his head rests on her left shoulder. Within moments, he grows heavy as he falls asleep.

Killian and Emma look at Neal for a few minutes in silence.

"I'm sorry." Emma mumbles, turning her head to her right to face Killian. "We should have talked sooner. I should have listened to Dad: to you."

Killian tilts his body to face Emma better and raises his hand to grasp hers.

"What is done, is done now, Emma." Killian says, a small smile on his lips. His thumb runs over her knuckles in a feather-light touch. "I know that your experiences have led to you doing everything for yourself regardless but you have your entire family around you now."

Emma nods, looking up to see her parents, Regina and Henry all talking and smiling together around the table, steaming mugs in their hands. She leans her cheek against Neal's head as her husband's words float around in her mind. Killian remains silent, knowing his wife just needs silence to think.

"I cannot just give up being the Sheriff or the Saviour because people rely on me." Emma says and turns her head to look back at Killian. "But I do agree with what you said earlier."

Killian shakes his head. "I allowed my temper to get the better of me, Emma. Do not pay attention to what-"

"Killian," Emma interrupts. "You were right whether it was said with anger or with love or even both. With me being out for so long and focusing on everyone instead of those most precious to me, I have done too much and put myself in too much danger; both of us in too much danger."

Their joint hands now rest on the side of Emma's bump and they feel their baby moving around very slightly.

"It's alright, Emma." Killian mumbles.

Emma shakes her head. "It's not if it led to the argument we had earlier, Killian. I'm sorry for what I said to you - that was awful of me."

Emma can see the hint of sadness within his eyes at her words. "It is forgotten, love." Killian says, pressing a kiss to Emma's temple.

"You are not that man anymore, Killian. You do care; you do everything you can and I was completely wrong to say it."

Killian smiles slightly. "As I said, love, it is forgotten." he says and Emma leans against him.

"I won't work as much as I have been, I promise." Emma says. "I'll stay at home a lot more then perhaps we could decorate the nursery at last? We have a crib to build too."

Killian's smile broaden into a grin. "I would love nothing more, Emma."

"Oh, goodness. I hadn't realised that Neal had fallen asleep." Snow says, coming over to Emma and Killian and carefully taking her son in her arms. "Is everything alright?"

Emma smiles at her mother's concern. "It is now, Mum."

Snow nods, a smile forming of her own. "Good. I'm just going to put Neal to bed." she says before turning around and walking away.

"Can we try not to argue over something like this again?" Emma asks, turning and throwing her tired legs over Killian's. "I don't like it."

Killian breathes out a laugh before wrapping his arms around his wife, pulling her in more to his body.

"Aye, love. I agree with that."

Emma pulls her head back enough so she can meet her gaze with Killian's.

"I love you, Killian." she whispers.

Killian drops his forehead to hers, their breaths mingling.

"I love you too, Emma; with all that I am."

...

Of course, there are fights in their future but all are very easily resolved with an enthusiastic little brother and his love for tickle fights.

End note: Please review! :)